Fluid control valve construction



April 2, 1957 E, A. ROCKWELL 2,787,287

' FLUID CONTROL VALVE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 11, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet .1

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E. A. RQCKWELL FLUID CONTROL VALVE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 11, 1941 April 2, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 2, 1957 E. A. ROCKWELL FLUID CONTROL VALVE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 2,787,287 CONTROL CONSTRUCTION Edward A. Rockwell, Los Angeles, Calif.

Applicatio June 5, 1945, Serial 674,508, new Patent No, 2,608,061, dated August 26-, 1952, is a division of application Serial No. 388,002, April 11, 1941, now Patent No. 2,448,4(24, dated August 31, 1943. Dvidg jl and this application July 22, 1952, Serial No.

8 Claims, (Cl. 137t62il) invention relates. particularly to valve mechanisms designed for the control of fluid pressures.

The present application is a division of my copending application Ser. No, 674,508,, filed June 5, 1946, upon Power Unit Pressure Responsive Device, now Patent No. 2,608,061, which latter is a division of my Letters Patent No. 2,448,464, granted August 31, 1948,

An object of my invention is to provide effective valve means for the application of power, by means of fluid pressure. A further object is to provide a grommet valve construction for eifectively controlling the inlet and outlet of a pressure cliifering from the atmospheric pressure, for the operation of the power unit. Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description of the same hereinafter.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only one preferred form thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which-r,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of; a form, of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, taken partly in section on line, 2 2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3, is an elevation of the other end of the same; and

Figs. 4 and 4A show a vertical section of the valve shown in Fig. 1.

For purposes of illustration the invention has been shown, as incorporated in a hydraulical brake system of the type used in automotive vehicles. When the brake pedal of the vehicle is, depressed, fluid is. discharged from the master cylinder of the: hr; e system through a flexible pipe1-4 to an inlet opening, fitting screw-threaded in a va [efcasing 16. The, fiuid enteriug the valve casing 16 allypasses through a passageway 33, and thence past a valve seat 34 and out through openings inthe valve casingilo; From this pointtihe liquid passes out through an opening 36 to, a fitting 3.7 connected to a flexible pipe Zia-which. leadsto brake cylinders constituting elements of the brakes associated with therespective vehicle wheels.

In the exemplary form of my, invention 1 have shown the valve casing 16 threaded into a casting 144a inwhich thepreviousiy mentioned opening 36, is formed.

An annular chambr144 formed by an external groove in the casing in communicates with the interior of the casing through a radial port :and there is a passageway 145 in said casting 1444 leading from the chamber to which there, isv connect-ed an angle-fitting 146 having therein a pipe 147. This pipe 1 47,, leads to a fitting 143 which is screvhthreaded into a plunger housing 149 leading by a passageway 150 to itPhamber 151 which is closed by a plug 152 havingta reduced inner end 153 acting as a stop for the left face of a plunger 154 having a U-shaped rubber, seal 155, in, an annular recess 156 on said plunger. Said plunger 1S4 hasan internal screw-thread 57 to receive asten 158011 a smaller plunger 3% in the chamber 151-. The smaller plunger 1-59 has a U-shaped rubber seal 169 in an [annular recess 161. Furthermore, the said chamber 151 has a passageway-162: leading to a fit: ting; 163 which i connectedibvasise15 -m ttin 1. .5

2,787,287 a e d, Ap 51 2 communicating with the outlet opening 36 for the hydraulic liquid. Also, the said chamber 151 has copsmunicating therewith a further passageway 15o containing an air'bleeder screw 167 for normally closing the passage 166. The said screw 167 has a transverse passageway 168 leading to a central passageway 16? inth e screw 2167, which passageway 169 is normally closed by a removable screw 170. The smaller plunger has on its rear face an extension 171 to which there is attached an outlet valve 172, a rubber gasket 173 being provided in an annular recess 174 adjacent to the plunger 159. The said outlet valve 172 is adapted to seat on arubb'er gr met 175, that is to say an eyelet-shaped body cfifl e o rubber. This is strengthened by an internal stiffening sleeve 176 providing a passageway 111 through the center thereof. The said grornrnet il'fi has a forward l -shaped flange 17% which is clamped against the plunger housing 149 by meansof a spacing" ring 179 andscrews 180. The said grommet also has a rear; flange 181 acting as an inlet valve therefor. In order to provide freedom of movement and in order to provide an air inlet chamber 182, the grommet 175 is spaced away from the inner periphery of the ring 179. it will be noted, furthermore, that the ring 179 has transverse passageways 183 for the inlet of air to the chamber 182 fron i an outer chamber 134 which communicates with the outer air through a peripheral space 185 between the ring 179; and theplunger housing 149. Ain whicl is thus admitted frointhe chem; oer 182, when the flange 181 is uuseated from the ringv 17%, will pass through passageways 136 provided by lugs 13'? which support a stop plate 188 held in place on ring 179 by screws 189 Theair in this way reaches a space 194 within a cylinder 191 which is supported around a shoulder 1% on the rear face o f; the ring 179. Within the said cylinder 191 there is arranged tp'reciprocate a. piston 1 93 which supports a leather ring 194 having on the front face of said ring 194 a supporting disc 19,5. Q1 the rear face of the piston 193 there is a felt lubricating ring 1%, adapted to be provided with a body of lubricao ing oil initially. The said felt ring has a. Supporting disc 197. The discs 195 and197 and the piston 1*93 are' car,- ried on a screw 193 having a head 1,9 9 contacting with the stop plate 188, and which is screw-threaded into a tubular piston rod; 2% having a central passageway 2Q], therein. The other end; of the piston rod 290 is arranged to slide within a bushing 2111 a,serew-threaded sleeve 203 which is screw-threadedtp a cylinder 2 04. forward end of the cylinder 21 04 isheaded into a cylinder head 2 05 cf the cylinder 191, which, head; ,95Qa'cts as a support for a strong helical spring 206 the other en dof which is supported against the disc: 197. A vacuum pipe 267 leading fromthe manifold -ofthe internal combustion engine is screw-threaded into :a vacuum valye casing 208, having a checl; valve 20?; with peripheral notches 216, which seats against avalve seat 211 supported in the valve casing 202;, the, latter being headed over into the cylinder head 295. The vacuum thus commurficated to the chamber 191 is conveyed to the other end of the cyl mi 191 y a e i ns 2 new n the linder head 191, into which, there is screw-threaded an angle t 2 .3 tsd by, P ll .1a. o le t as 215 e th c ed" t a pass ew y, 116 hl ahmm nects with a vacuum chamber 2 1], the: outlet valve M2 is located. The rear endofthe tubular piston r d 2% i ie d s, t he nd g ie l e e 203, es ring 218 adjacent to a. U-shaped r bber seal-Q19, adjacent to which thereis a ring 226;; v ported to prevent air lock. Thering 2 1 8,rests,agajnst the rear endjof he sle e l iend he @5220 res in t theshgulder w in he cy i tder 2.04, Wi h a op ning, 291 h re. -an sssd arec pm I: s 221 951. 2 21.

piston 220 by an internal flange 223. The said rod 222, at its rear end, is screw-threaded to a cylindrical valve member 224, held in place by a lock nut 2246!, having a flexible rubber valve 225 therein which is arranged to seat against the valve seat 34. A coil spring 226 located around a reduced extension 227 on the cylinder valve 224 is supported at its other end upon a disc 228 having a port 229, said disc being supported upon a shoulder 230 1n the cylinder 204, which is screw-threaded into the casting 144a.

The cylinder 191 and attached parts to the right thereof are clamped against the ring 179 by means of a clamping plate 231 and three bolts 232, 233 and 234, which pass through said plate 231 and the ring 179. The bolt 232 provided merely with nuts 235 and 236, whereas the bolts 233 and 234 are longer than the bolt 232 and are provided with inner nuts 237 and 238 which hold the cylinder 191 and attached parts together, while located outside of the nuts 237 and 238 there are brackets 239 and 240 having holes 241 and 242 for supporting the power unit from the chassis of the automobile. Nuts 24,3 and 244 are located on the ends of the bolts 233 and 234 in order to fasten the bolts 233 and 234 securely to the brackets 239 and 240.

In the operation of my invention, assuming that the master cylinder of the brake system has been provided with a supply of hydraulic liquid, that the engine is in operation and that it is desired to operate the brakes, upon moving the brake pedal downwardly, the hydraulic fluid will be forced from the master cylinder through the pipe 14 through the valve casing 16 till it reaches the opening 36 and is thence discharged by the pipe 38 to the brake system so as to initially move the brakes into position. At the same time the hydraulic liquid will be com veyed by the pipe 147 to the left face of the plunger 154 in the chamber 151 so as thus to seat the outlet valve 172 and unseat the atmospheric air inlet valve 181 to a slight extent, as desired. This initial action in seating the brakes will not be sufficient, however, to start the movement of the piston 193, owing to the compressed helical spring 206. At the same time, also, it will be understood that the hydraulic liquid from the opening 36 is in communication, by the pipe 164, with the chamber 151 located between the differential plungers 154 and 1.59. Upon further movement of the brake pedal, thereby increasing the pressure supplied through the pipe 14, the pressure against the face of the plunger 154 will be accordingly increased, thereby resulting in the further opening of the atmospheric air inlet valve 181 while retaining the outlet valve 172 closed. This position of the valves cuts off the vacuum from access to the left face of the piston 193 and admits atmospheric air from the chamber through the passageway 183 and 186 to the desired extent, resulting in the movement of the piston 193 to the right. This movement of the piston 193 permits the valve 225 to become seated, thus cutting off further access of the liquid from the opening 15 to the opening 36, and thereafter the movement of the piston rod 200 in the cylinder 204 causes the liquid in the latter to be forced under an increased pressure out through the pipe 38, thereby applying power for the operation of the brakes. At all times, however, it will be noted that before and after the application of the power the pressure of the hydraulic liquid applied to the brakes is arranged to react through the pipe 164 on the differential plunger 154, 159 so that the operators foot at all times receives the reaction of the actual pressures being applied to the brakes. It will be noted that the plunger 154 has a larger rear area than the front face of the plunger 159 so as to produce this reaction towards the operators foot. In this way, furthermore, the reaction towards the operators foot produces an extreme nicety of control in the application of the brakes. Besides, any danger of power lock of the brakes, especially during the range of the highest power pressures applied by the apparatus, is avoided. However, in any one position in which thebrake pedal is held in the power application,

the admission of the amount of air permitted to pass from the left face of the valve 181 to the right face thereof will cause the valve 181 to become seated due to the increase relative prcssure on the right face of said valve 181. Also, any hysteresis due to hunting of the movable parts back and forth, is avoided, especially as with this arrangement it is not necessary for the operators foot to be moved too far in changing from a given pressure applied to the brakes to a slightly lower pressure application of the brakes. It will be understood, of course, that the relative sizes of the plungers 154 and 159 can be changed as well as the actual sizes thereof according to the type of vehicle to which it is applied. Upon releasing the brake pedal, to release the brakes, the inlet valve 181 becomes seated on the ring 179 and the outlet valve 172 is then opened, thus giving access of the vacuum to the left face of the piston 193 and cutting off the same from access to the outer air. Inasmuch as the right face of the piston 193 is always subject to the vacuum and as the left face new has access to the vacuum, the piston 193 will be returned by the spring 206 to its initial position, resulting in the head 221 of the rod 222 being moved by the flange 223 on the piston rod 280 towards the left, again unscating the valve 225 and thus place in communication again the opening 15 and the opening 36, ready for subsequent manual application of the brakes.

in this form of my invention the subjection of the piston 193 to the vacuum, is brought about by the pipe 214 which communicates with the two faces of the piston 193. Also, i have provided the single rigid outlet valve 172 which seats on the rubber grommet 175, the latter serving as a self-closing inlet valve in connection with the ring 179 which supports the grommet 175. In other words, when the power is being applied from the power unit to the brake, the valve 172 will first become seated upon the grommet and further movement of the valve 172 will push the flange 181 of the grommet 175, acting as an inlet valve, off its seat on the ring 179, thus admitting to the desired extent the air through the passageways 185, 183 and chamber 182, to the left face of the piston 193, resulting in the movement of the same to apply the power to the brakes.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. A valve mechanism having a housing means containing an inlet port for a fluid and an outlet port for utilization of said fluid, said housing means having therein also an annular valve and a seat and an annular chamber defined by said housing and valve element, said chamber being in continuous communication with said inlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said outlet port, the outer boundary of said chamber being formed by said housing, said valve comprising a movable circular element of elastic material formed in one piece provided with spool-like annular flanges, one of said flanges acting as a movable valve seating on said valve seat to close off fluid communication between the inlet port and said outlet port, a retainer means for the other of said flanges holding said other flange in leak-proof contact with the housing, an operable member supported by the retainer means for relative motion between the retainer means and the member for coacting with said element to apply a force when operated for flexing said element and opening said valve.

A three-way valve mechanism having a housing means containing an inlet port for a fluid and an outlet port for utilization of said fluid and also an exhaust port for exhausting said fluid, said housing means having therein also an annular valve and a seat and an annular chamber defined by said housing and valve element, said chamber being in continuous communication with said inlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said outlet port, the outer boundary of said chams her being formed by said housing, said valve comprising a movable circular element of elastic material provided with spool-like annular flanges and provided with a central exhaust passageway through said element in continuous communication with said outlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said inlet and exhaust ports, one of said flanges acting as a movable valve seating on said valve seat to open and close off fluid communication between the inlet port and outlet port by movement in opposite directions, a retainer means for the other of said flanges holding said other flange in leakproof contact with the housing means, an operable member supported. by the retainer means for relative motion between the retainer means and the member for coacting with said element and for blocking ofl communication between the exhaust passageway and the exhaust port and to apply a force when operated for flexing said element and opening said inlet valve, while blocking off said exhaust passageway and to open said exhaust port to the outlet port after closing of the inlet valve.

3. A three-way valve mechanism having a housing means containing an inlet port for a fluid and an outlet port for utilization of said fluid and also an exhaust port for exhausting said fluid, said housing means having also an annular valve and a seat and an annular chamber defined by said housing and valve element, said chamber being in continuous communication with said inlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said outlet port, the outer boundary of said chamber being formed by said housing, said valve comprising a movable circular element of elastic material provided with spool-like annular flanges and a central exhaust passageway through said element in continuous communication with said outlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said inlet and exhaust ports, one of said flanges acting as a movable valve seating on said valve seat to open and close off fluid communication between the inlet port and outlet port by movement in opposite directions, a retainer means for the other of said flanges holding said other flange in leak-proof contact with the housing means, an operable member supported by the retainer means for relative motion between the retainer means and the memher for coacting with said element and for blocking off communication between the exhaust passageway and the exhaust port and to apply a force when operated for flexing said element and opening said inlet valve, while blocking oflt said exhaust passageway and to open said exhaust port to the outlet port after closing of the inlet valve, one of said annular flanges having a larger diameter than the other of said annular flanges, said retainer means being in the form of a movable clamping ring mating with said other flange and fastened to the housing means for providing said leak-proof contact therewith.

4. A valve mechanism according to claim 3, further characterized by the clamping ring providing an exhaust port.

5. A three-way valve mechanism having a housing means containing an inlet port for a fluid and an outlet port for utilization of said fluid and also an exhaust port for exhausting said fluid, said housing means having therein also an annular valve and a seat and an annular chamber defined by said housing and valve element, said chamber being in continuous communication with said inlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said outlet port, the outer boundary of said chamber being formed by said housing, said valve comprising a movable circular element of elastic material provided with spool-like annular flanges and provided with a central exhaust passageway through said element in continuous communication with said outlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said inlet and exhaust ports, one of said flanges acting as a movable valve seating on said valve seat to open and close off fluid com munication between the inlet port and the outlet port by movement in opposite directions, a retainer means for the other of said flanges holding said other flange in leak-proof contact with the housing means, an operable member supported by the retainer means for relative motion between the retainer means and the member for coacting with said element and for blocking oft communication between the exhaust passageway and the exhaust port and to apply a force when operated for flexing said element and opening said inlet valve, while blocking oft" said exhaust passageway and to open said exhaust port to the outlet port after closing of the inlet valve, said operable member comprising an actuating piston having a cylinder in said retainer means and a fluid pressure passage leading to said piston for receiving a fluid pressure for operating said member by the said pressure, an auxiliary piston on said member in the retainer, said actuating piston having a smaller area .in opposition to the area of the auxiliary piston, and an additional passage for receiving a higher fluid pressure for an additional control of said operable member.

6. A three-way valve mechanism having a housing means containing an inlet port for a fluid and an outlet port for utilization of said fluid, said housing means having therein also an annular valve and a seat and an annular chamber defined by said housing and valve element, said chamber being in continuous communication with said inlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said outlet port, the outer boundary of said chamber being formed by said housing, said valve comprising a movable circular element having a passageway through the center thereof comprising an exhaust for said fluid in continuous communication with said outlet port and adapted to be placed in communication with said inlet port, said element having a flange-like extension at one end thereof for seating on said seat and constituting an inlet valve for shutting ofl said fluid at said chamber, the other end of said element having a flange-like extension constituting an exhaust valve seat as well as a flexible mounting flange, a retainer means for said mounting flange fastened to the housing means, said flanges providing a counter-balanced pressure responsive diaphragm mounting for the annular area of the inlet valve as well as a sealing means for said annular chamber, an operable member coacting with said element and provided with an exhaust valve element for closing off the exhaust by seating on said exhaust valve seat and also constituting means to open said inlet valve so that the movement in one direction of said operable member will first close said exhaust valve and subsequently open said inlet valve and in the other direction will close said inlet valve and then open said exhaust valve.

7. A valve mechanism according to claim 6 characterized further by said operable member having supporting means including a piston and a cylinder and an inlet to said cylinder for receiving a fluid pressure for actuating the piston to operate said member.

8. A valve mechanism according to claim 6, characterized further by said operable member having thereon two opposed areas and another passage in the housing means for applying fluid pressure to the operable memher in an opposite direction toward the release of the exhaust valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 134,220 Riley Dec. 24, 1872 806,331 Ferry Dec. 5, 1905 1,587,969 Ludeman June 8, 1926 1,803,957 Bragg May 5, 1931 2,009,696 King July 30, 1935 2,270,838 Langdon Jan. 20, 1942 2,542,254 Lamb Feb. 20, 1951 2,571,667 Bondurant 'Oct. 16, 1951 

